Binocular mount



July 6, 1948.

W. B. LARSON BINOCULAR MOUNT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 10, 1947 /8grwQ/n M WI LLIAM ELL REDN,

JWMJZ July 6,1948. AR N 2,4445453 BINOCULAR MOUNT Filed Jan. 10, 1947 I2 sheets -sheet 2 /4 j zw mwrzzw Patented July 6, 1948 PATENT orrtcsClam (granted tunder :the act pig-Max:011 :1883, as

jamendediepri ao, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described -inthe:foregoingspeoi- *"fi'ca tion and claims may be manufactured and"usedtby or for the Government" for governmental :purposeswithout :thepayment to me of any royalty thereon.

"This invention relates *to la mount wor support for a *pair ofbinoculars. While-"intended more tpartioularly for military or navaluse, itrwill the obvious that the support -has"many other uses where=-a-rigid, :positive, iand rapidly adjustable support for a pair of-binooulars is t desired.

Accordingly the invention: has :for its main ob- ;jects,* 01 )J-theprovision of a suppornfor a pairiof :binoculars that is rapidly and:uniformly adjust- :ableflto-firmly engage andlsupport: the :binocularsvfor :all *interpupillary adjustments tthereof 4( 2) lthe provisioniof'a binocular support-:that can Joe adjusted :to maintain the height.4 of the v oculars and zobiectives ,avfixed distance :above datum aforeall-linterpupillary iadjustments .thereof; (3) the tmtovisionrof 1atbinoeular support :that H-may ,be rquicklysand accurately: leveled :toascertainacorrect angles of sight of aztargetrforefiring on saidit-target; (4) thaprovisionofia support that, once adjusted, "can :bereadily docked ',in .the desired DOSitiQllq of ,1adjustment andreturned;to said position, as desired,despltesubsequent adjustments; .gandl5)the; provision ofta binocular-mount that positively holds a pairhofbinoculars .intanyugiven -,posi,ti;on of interpupillary;.adjustment.

iQther ;.0bj eots and -.advantages of my invention wwill become apparenttasuthe description nadwances.

;Imthe; d awing-whereinlikeireferencenumerals f corresp n n rart lt louhout;

Q-EigureJL is :an; eIBVatiOIIZOfYIlJhE; assembled-supmort, showing indottedylines ;,the position. of 1a .nair.-;of::binocu1ars secured :;toand supported thereon, .said ,binoculars;beingradjustedt for. sub-,stantiallvtheirminimum interpupillary n filament-2: .tacnlan:viewttakenjonrthe* 11118525142 vor Figure; 1,- showing :thebubble-tubesupport; and

the mechanical interconnection -;.between -.the vright and leftsupporting rwings,

Figure 3; :islang elevationgofathe.lassembled .support .:lookingin :adirection: Opposite t. to that of Figure 151 .and showing thewingalocking .zmeans, :andtin ;dotted;-51ines, .a ,seeond;,.position ofa pair 30f rbinoculars when adjusted for substantially mum. r up lary,distance;and

Figure ,4; is; a, section: taken ,upon a plane" indi- ;cated" by the,line 4- ;-4, Figure:1,1andtshowingdn detail; thabubblav tube support,theplevelingi head .construction,;;and; the-docking screw.

qneferringi indetail tdthexdrawingse Lidgntifies as Ql e -.a develingahead base generally circular in shape V and :having three-pairs (ofequally spaced arms 42, :23 en-c1 4 iraclially extending from itsperiphery. fiEachtpai-riof armsris drilled to form aligned holes, :thechole ain ronearm :being tapped -.to receive the threads, .of a pivotscrew, 4 such as :5; alii gures 1 and *3. ,A respective one -of-three'=:leg's 16,- .1 and 58 18 mitotsduponsorews 5 between each pair.oflarms. Eaohleg'hasasnug fit' betw'een"itstpair of arms'so tthatiby.turning the screws,-athe -tricti0n betwecn :eaohcdeg and its pairrofarms -may be adjusted. 31f vsand uwhenrdesired this :triction may the-made so. great was :to, :in .efieot,l lock -the legs in "theirdesiredlpositions of pivotal adjustment upon :the .fifi lews. ebasel'ahasta' central, substantially'hemispherical t socket :9 adapted toreceive, with a smooth .efit, -the ha]1: .projection m of a :leveling l'ead ti. Efihe basehasa hole =12 therethrough .ztc ntrallytof socket 9.The aprojection jlflqhas a neutral.:tlnteadedaperture -13 to receive ascrew 4M ofasmallerediameter thamholetlz -Al'knOb il"5'Jlfidstoareceivetztheeshanhof screw l-ld-awith git. .-A;;set screw l6ithreads into a radial not) ,;I Send secures the knob and screw at! riidly o ether. Thus, by turningdinob arrow .lfltmavsbe loosened afterwhich head wil zme mfi ated:andtangularlyadjustedrelatively to L{Lightening lofts-crew M then .ilooks I; 23435655 y their desired.position .of relative tadgjp r nent. FromuFigure it willbe noted-thatlgnop, t5 -has ,;-a spherical depression to receive a"fifinltfixtsurfaca of. base I I to therebytreduce uhearingamessure andincrease the friction hold- 335 thezbaserand head in adjusted position.

iilz' fifixzleveling headmlz'l sincludes a standard :Ha extendingupwardly from projection l0 and-terzminatingiimdiverging arm'srl 1b (andl lc forming a v goove or.channelat!BntherebetWeen-adaptH M40tpireceive. and support the-pivot joint -of a pair of :binoculars. Aledgelor shelf ll extends latzerally from the rear side or =face ofstandard 4 Ha andis adapted to-support a oircularbubble level 2&8 (ofeconventional construction sand secured theretoxbylscrewsil9. :II'helevellis s0 related to the :channel 20 that when a: the bubble .of-H B"is .eentetedtrelativelyi totacircularimarkor indicium smaaon-ltherglasscover oftthe tlevel, channel =is dsamlwna toribe horizontal. Since theoptical iaxes -.of;:the binoculars .are parallellwith the pivotaxistbetweengthe :right andrleft halves, adjustmentof :head rt! tolevelpositionasindicated by :level; I 8, also .assurestthat the lines ofv sight of a pair or binoculars suppnrtedlthereby,risrhorizontall Atsits right land .left :POItiOIlS, slightly above the plane of shelf ll,the head H is provided with horizontally spaced bores parallel to theelements forming channel 20. As clearly shown at Figure 1 the axes ofthese bores are also symmetrical with respect to a normally verticalplane through the base of channel 20. Pivot pins 2i and 22 have a smoothbearingin the respective bores.

Right and left supporting wings 23 and 24 are substantially identical inconstruction so that a description of one will suffice. Wing 24, then,has a notch 25 at its inner end forming spaced lugs 24a and 241). Theselugs have aligned holes to snugly receive pin 21. The confrontingsurfaces of the notch are parallel and are spaced apart to receivebetween them with the minimum practical clearance, the parallel faces ofstand ard lla. Each pair of lugs may be conveniently secured to itsshaft by pins as indicated-upon Figure 2.

As will be noted from Figure 2, shafts 2| and 22 extend forwardly fromthe adjacent lugs such as 241), a sufficient, distance to receiverespective identical spur gears 26 and 21 which intermesh. Each gear issecured, as by pins 28, to a respective shaft. Thus, the wings areinterconnected for equal and opposite pivotal movement. The originalassembly is such that the wings are at all times symmetrical withrespect to the plane normal to thepaper, indicated by line 4-4,Figure 1. each wingis enerally that of, a 90 portion of a right circularcylinder each having its elements parallel to the axis of its pivot pin2| or 22. The contour. of the lower surfaces of the wings may generallyconform to that of the upper surface. The outer edge of each wing isconveniently rounded and their arcuate edges may be chamfered asindicated at 23c and 240, Figure 2.

Standard lla, at its forward side has a lug and lug lid may be formedindependently of the standard Ma and secured thereto as by screws. In amodel actually built and successfully operated, shelf ll andball l wereformed integrally and connected with standard Ila by machine screws.

A strap 3!! is used to secure the binoculars firmly in position upon thesupport. To prevent loss, the strapmay be secured to the under surfaceof one wing by a screw 3i, as indicated at Figures 1 and 3. From thisscrew, the strap passes ,upwardly between the pivot lugs of wing 24, be-(tween the right and left halves of the binoculars thence over and incontact with the pivot between the two halves, downwardly between thepivot lugs of wing 23, thence around its outer end,

and upwardly over and about the two halves of the binoculars, to wing24. A pinch type clamp or buckle 32 enables precise adjustment of theeffective length of the strap. From Figure 4 it will be noted that thetops of arms Ho and Hc are notched to accommodate the strap'and preventlateral displacement thereof.

In use, the binoculars are first adjusted to Asshown at Figure 1, theupper surface of lid projecting therefrom. A setscrew 29 is= 4 vary thedistance between ocular's in accordance with the interpupillary distanceof the user, by relatively pivoting the two halves about their commonpivot. The binoculars are then placed upon the support with their pivotresting in channel 26. At this time, the wings 23 and 24 are in adownward position of adjustment,;out of contact with'thebinocularsandstrap 3ll.is loosely encircling the binoculars. The wings 23 and 24are now raised until their supporting surfaces are in firm contact withthe respective halves of the sighting device, whereupon, screw 29 isturned down until itstapered end engages the adjacent wing surfaces tothereby positively prevent further elevation of the wings. The strap isthen tightened about the binoculars to firmly hold their pivot inchannel and each half in contact with its wing. Thexbinoculars arethereby not a only firmly attached to the support, but also anyinadvertent alterationfof the interpupillary distance setting isprevented;

The support, with binoculars attached is positioned with legs 6, l and 8resting upon any convenient support and the legs pivoted until base I isapproximately horizontal as indicated by level l8 which is normallyadjacent and just below the oculars. Knob i5 is then turned to free ballII] from clamped position in its socket. The head ll and partscarriedthereby are now directed upon a target and given a fine adjustment toexactly center the bubblewith respect to indicium lda, after which knob15 is again tightened. In certain standard models of binoculars suchasthe Army's types M3, M8, M9, M13 and M15, there is a reticle in the lefteyepiece. This reticle is in the form ofnormally vertical and horizontalscales, offset from the center of the field of View. The horizontalscale is graduated in mils'from its center toward each and, usually from0 to 50 mils, while the vertical scale is graduated in yards, from 0 atthe top to about 2000 at its lower end. In addition some models have avertical mil scale. I

Under ordinary battle conditions, firing is directed by arm signals and,when the battery commander uses binoculars simply held to his eyes, itis not only extremely difficult to level the line of sight, but also thefibinoculars must be released every time a signal is given after whichthe target must again be picked up. As a result, firing is slowed andvaluable time wasted. My invention obviates the foregoing disadvantages.The support, once adjusted, holds the binoculars directed upon thetarget, leaving the battery commander free to give arm signals asdesired and making it unnecessary for him to pick up the target afterevery signal. The mil scale in the eyepiece being truly horizontalenables rapid and accurate determination of the lateral deflection ofthe target from an observable aiming point, while if the target is nearthe horizontal plane through the observation point, the angle ofsight-and true range adjustments for accurate fire may be quicklydetermined since the vertical scale is held truly vertical. Furthermore,in the-case where legs 6, l and 8 are relatively short, say about 6inches, the binoculars with support attached may be conveniently carriedby the usual neck strap provided for the binoculars. The support alsoacts to hold the interpupillary adjustment fixed against accidentalchangeand, of course, the binoculars, with support attached may be heldto the eyes in the ordinary manner of use. Where unusual enemy activity,or snipers, are suspected at a given location, the binoculars may besupported in posireassess non-directed that point. The polntniay then becontinuously observed toiietermihe-wnether it should be fired upon,While rhave disclosed my invention asbeing very useful in warfare, it isby no means limitedto such uses but is equally well "substitutionsandmodifications will occur to those 2 skilled in the art after a study ofthe present disclosure. For example a vertical scale may be provided onstandard I la adjacent the head of screw 29 for cooperation with radial,circumferentiallyspaced graduations on the head of said screw, so thatthe screw may be given any desired predetermined setting for a knowninterpupillary adjustment of the binoculars. It is also contemplatedthat set screw 29 may be replaced by, or supplement, a set screwthreaded into a hole in standard I l to engage one of the shafts 2| or22 to thereby positively lock the wings in adjusted postions. For thisreason, the foregoing description should be taken in an illustrativerather than a limiting sense; and it is my desire to reserve all su hchanges as fall within the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having now fully disclosed my invention what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a support for a pair of binoculars having right and left halvesinterpivoted by a pivot joint, a head, a standard carried by said headand having means at its upper end to engage and sup; port said pivotjoint, right and left wings each pivoted in said head on an axisparallel to the axis of said joint when so supported, each said winghaving a surface adapted to engage and support the said rig-ht and lefthalves, respectively, for all interpivoted adjustments thereof, andmeans interconnecting said wings for simultaneous equal and oppositepivotal movement.

2. A support for a pair of binoculars having right and left opticalhalves interconnected by a pivot for interpupillary adjustment, aleveling head, a standard on said head and formed at its upper end toengage and support said pivot, a pair of wings journaled in said head onspaced axes parallel to the pivot of said binoculars when so supported,means interconnecting said wings for simultaneous equal and oppositepivotal movem-ent, each said Wing having its upper surface formed tohave substantially line contact with the respective halves of saidbinoculars for all positions of interpupillary adjustment thereof, andmeans to secure said wings in desired position of upward pivotaladjustment.

3. In a mount for a pair of binoculars having right and left halvesinterpivoted for interpupillary adjustment, a leveling head including anupright standard having a V-groove at its upper end to engage andsupport the pivot of said bin-. oculars, first and second shaftsjournaled in said head on normally horizontally spaced axes, meansconnecting said shafts for equal and opposite pivotal movement, asupporting wing fixed on each shaft respectively, each said wing havinga substantially cylindrical upper supporting surface, whose elements areparallel with said shafts and V-groove, means adjustable to lock saidwings in position of upward adjustment, and a single strap adapted tohold said pivot in said 1 V grcov'e and said halves in contactwiththerespective wings.

"4; "'A mount for a pair of binoculars having ng'nt' and alertin'terpivotedhalves, a neat, 'a standard secured toand upstandihg froinsaid headandhaving means at its upper end to engage and support thepivot of said binoculars, right and lest wings pivoted on said head onnormally honao'r'ltally*spaced axes each parallel to said pivot when theflatter issupportedon said standard,

gearing connecting said wings for equaliandopposite pivotal movement,means carried by .said head adiustable to variably limit the upwardpivotal movement i or said wings, level means on said "neaiitoindicateahorizcntai-position ofsaid axes,

a base, and a releasable ball and socket joint connection between saidbase and head.

5. The structure recited in claim 4, the upper surfaces of said Wingsbeing formed as upwardly convex substantially cylindrical surfaces whoseelements are parallel with the pivot axes thereof, the axes of saidsurfaces being offset outwardly from the respective shaft axes.

6. Means for supporting a pair of binoculars having right and leftoptical elements connected by a pivot for relative adjustment about anaxis parallel to the optical axes of said elements, said meanscomprising a head having an upstanding 1 portion adapted adjacent itstop, to engage and support said pivot, right and left wings pivoted onsaid head on parallel horizontally spaced axes below said top, each wingextending outwardly from its axis and having an upper surface formed toengage with the respective elements of said binoculars, means connectingsaid wings for equal and opposite pivotal adjustment, means carried bysaid head to adjustably limit the upward pivotal movement of said Wings,means to urge said pivot into supported position on said portion andmeans to hold said wings in upward position of limiting adjustment incontact with the respective elements of said binoculars.

7. A mount for binoculars comprising a head, means on said head toengage and positively support the interconnecting pivot of saidbinoculars, a pair of oppositely and outwardly extending wings mountedon said head for movement into supporting engagement with respectiveright and left portions of said binoculars, means adjustably limitingthe upward movement of said wings, and means adapted to positively holdsaid pivot on said support and said wings upwardly in limiting positionof adjustment in contact with said portions, respectively.

8. In a mount for binoculars, a base having an upwardly facinghemispherical socket, tripod legs pivoted to and extending downwardlyfrom said base, a head having a depending ball fitting said socket,means releasably clamping said ball and base in relatively adjustedangular position, a standard extending upwardly from said head, therebeing a normally-horizontal V-channel at the top of said standard toreceive and support the pivot of said binoculars, right and leftoutwardly and oppositely extending wings, each wing having a pair ofspaced lugs to receive and embrace said head, a pair of horizontallyspaced, parallel shafts each passing through aligned bearing aperturesin said respective pairs of lugs, and a respective bearing aperture insaid head, each wing being connected with its shaft, identicalintermeshing spur gears fixed to each shaft whereby said wings areconstrained to equal and opposite angular movement, a set screw threadedin said standard and adapted to engage between said wings to limitupward pivotal movement thereof,

aibubble tube level carried by said head to indicate when saidV-.channel is horizontal, said wings having, upwardly convexsubstantially cylindrical supporting surfaces adapted to engage andsupsaid wing, beneath said other wing, thence over and across saidbinoculars to the point of beginning, said strap, when tightenedacting-to hold said pivot in its seat and said wings in limiting 152,015,627

upwardtposition in supporting contact with respective said binocularportions, and means securing said strap to the under surface of onewins.

'WJLLIAM B. LARSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 246,164 Loiseau Aug, 23, 18811,831,086 Zerk Nov. 10, 1931 Hug Sept. 24, 1925

